If there is one thing that stirs the spirit of Festive mood among the people, it is the celebration that comes along with Unity, knowing one’s own cultural root and identity. The spirit of Khaozaosie-Hok-Ah festival is already lingering in the Frontier District Noklak and fully geared to experience music, food, cultures and traditions, handicrafts.
Khaozaosie-Hok-Ah- the festival of Feast and Rest & Handicraft Festival cum Mini Hornbill Festival is organised by Khiamniungan Tribal Council Cum Noklak District Handloom and Handicraft Council sponsored by Government of Nagaland, which will be begin from January 18 to 19.
Khaozaosie-Hok-Ah, an important festival of the Khiamniungan Nagas, is one of the major festivals of celebrations in the month of January. It marks the end of all agricultural activities and begins a time to rest and give thanks to God for the bountiful harvest and triumph over adversities throughout the year. Khaozaosie-Hok-Ah is derived from the word ‘Khaozao’ which means Bamboo cup with a straw pipe’. ‘Sie’ means ‘a brew of local wine’. ‘Hok’ means ‘leg’ and ‘Ah’ refers to ‘rest’. Thus, the festival is all about rest and celebration with a local brew. This celebration is followed by traditional dances with a huge numbers of both men and women.
Unlike other years, this time, the festival will be inclusive in terms of participation and segregations of the three days with different events focused on handicrafts, traditional arts, indigenous sports and games. The Handicraft festival will be held on the first day January 18 where local artisans will be provided with stalls to display their works and competitions will be held with cash prizes. The competitions will be open to everyone of both men and women category. The festival will also witness traditional games and sports initiated by Khiamniungan Sports Council.
Benei M Lamthiu, Member, Nagaland Legislative Assembly will grace the first day celebration as the Special Guest which is January 18 followed by the inaugural of the Handicraft festival which will include competition, cultural troupe performance and other interesting activities.
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H Shou Lam, Deputy Director Department of Sericulture will be the special guest on January 19 for the traditional and Indigenous games competition .
P.Longon , Member, Nagaland Legislative Assembly and Chairman DPDB will grace the third day, January 20 Celebration along with Keduosie Metha, Director, Tourism Government of Nagaland as the Guest of Honour.
The 19th evening is the Khaozaosie-Hok-Ah Music festival which will be enlightened by Naga Artist Mengu Suokhrie and many local artists. January 20 will witness the Khaozaosie-Hok-Ah DJ night with DJ Rhon joined by other local artists.
With all the sweats and hardworks in the forms of finance, physical labour, ideas invested to bring the celebration to live , the organizers fully expects turnups form all citizens of the District and invites everyone to be part of the celebration be it artisans, cultural troupes participants of the formal sessions and competitors of the activities.
The organisers also stated that this year’s event will be a different one as compared to previous years. It said that speaking of distinctions, inclusion of Music Festival, traditional and indigenous games competitions are the latest inclusions of the event which will definitely add value to the whole concept of the festival which the organizers also aims to create a proper circuit of the arena.
